cmd_php
cmd_php is a command-line interface (CLI) tool designed for executing PHP scripts directly from the command line. This utility allows developers to run PHP code without the need for a web server, making it particularly useful for testing, debugging, and automating tasks.
History and Context
- Origin: The concept of running PHP from the command line dates back to the early versions of PHP. However, with the release of PHP 4.3.0 in 2002, PHP introduced the
php-cli binary, which was specifically designed for command-line operations. This was later renamed to php in PHP 5.3.0.
- Purpose: Originally, PHP was developed for server-side scripting, but as the language evolved, the need for CLI functionality became evident for various tasks like system administration, batch processing, and integration with other command-line tools.
Features of cmd_php
- Script Execution: Users can directly execute PHP scripts by calling
php script.php from the command line.
- Interactive Mode: By running
php -a, users enter an interactive shell where they can write and execute PHP code on the fly.
- CLI Specific Functions: PHP offers CLI-specific functions like
posix_getpid() for getting the process ID, which are not available in the web server environment.
- Configuration Options: cmd_php can read different php.ini configurations or use command-line switches to adjust PHP's runtime behavior.
- Error Reporting: CLI mode often provides more detailed error messages, which are useful for debugging.
Usage Examples
- Running a script:
php myscript.php
- Running with different PHP version:
/path/to/php-version/bin/php myscript.php
- Interactive mode:
php -a
Resources
For more detailed information:
Related Topics